The 70-lap feature was won by Petri Suvanto, driving for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Suvanto first had to fend off an incredible start by Andretti Autosport driver Spencer Pigot, who jumped nearly into the lead by Turn 3 on the opening lap from his 6th place starting position. Pigot then fell to 3rd behind his Andretti Autosport teammate and 2nd place starter Zach Veach.

Suvanto and Veach battled for the lead, while sleeper Luke Ellery driving for JDC Motorsports mounted his charge to the front after falling as far back as 8th. Before the leaders knew it, Veach had been demoted to 3rd by Ellery. In a classic short oval traffic play, Ellery used his momentum to blast into the lead as Suvanto slowed for a lapped car in Turn 1.

Luke Ellery would continue to lead ahead of Suvanto and Veach, until Rodin Younessi, driving for Pabst Racing Services, spun in Turn 3, collecting the race leading Ellery. “I thought (Younessi) would lock up the brakes or drive it down low. I was already high, so I stayed high, and he slid up the track. I had no where to go.” recounted a disappointed Ellery.

Petri Suvanto timed his restart well and continued to hold off a hard charging Zach Veach until the finish. Juan Piedrahita, driving for JDC Motorsports, would finish third, ahead of Spencer Pigot and Wayne Boyd.

As a driver mentor to all the drivers, Gerardo Bonilla’s night was equally exciting from his perspective in the control tower. “I was on pins and needles the entire race. Are you sure it was only thirty minutes? I want all the drivers to do well, so every time they were close, which was every lap, I was nervous as heck up in race control. I had Johnny Unser up there with me to help evaluate the drivers, making my job a lot easier! Those guys put on a hell of a show. Only one caution, and lots of awesome racing. The fans should feel great about what they saw.” related Bonilla.